Rescue stability drove Sunday’s operations as search teams recovered another worker from the collapsed boiler tower in Ulsan. Crews advanced their efforts three days after the accident and emphasized the need for extreme caution. Officials said the recovery marked essential progress while several workers remained trapped below unstable debris.
Authorities resumed work Sunday morning after halting efforts the previous afternoon because the site grew unsafe. Crews identified the recovered worker as a 44-year-old man named Kim who became pinned by twisted steel. Emergency teams confirmed his condition on Friday and planned a route to reach him safely. Thick metal beams blocked earlier attempts, so crews waited for engineers to clear dangerous sections.
Rescue stability shaped each decision as teams confirmed three fatalities and completed the recovery of all three. Four additional workers remained trapped under the wreckage, including two believed dead and two considered missing. Officials said the search would continue until crews accounted for every worker involved in the collapse.
The structure failed at about 2 p.m. Thursday at the Korea East-West Power plant in Ulsan. Nine workers handled preparatory demolition work when Unit 5 suddenly gave way and buried seven of them. The tower stood 63 meters tall and contained heavy steel frames that collapsed into a dense pile.
Rescue officials halted searches again Sunday afternoon because shifting debris increased direct risks to workers. Crews continued drone surveys to monitor internal conditions and identify safer access points. Kim Jeong-shik from the Ulsan Fire Headquarters said teams deployed drones first, then advanced a small search group. Engineers soon advised another pause so they could stabilize nearby structures.
Workers began weakening Unit 6, which leaned dangerously after the collapse and threatened further structural failure. Government officials also prepared plans to remove Units 4 and 6 using controlled demolition techniques. These steps aim to secure the area and restore rescue stability so teams can reenter safely.
Officials said the demolition work will determine when search crews can expand operations inside the collapse zone. Investigators also reviewed site practices to identify potential negligence involving demolition methods and safety oversight. Authorities said they will continue pushing forward until they recover every worker and stabilize the surrounding structures.
